Mother's Day is coming up and who doesn't love a handmade gift idea? I took a few empty La Crema bottles and, with the help of a glass cutter and my local plant nursery, turned them into mini succulent gardens. These little succulent planters are great for Mother's Day—it's a fun craft to do together! They would also make a great housewarming or "just because" gift. Once I got the bottle cutting down, I couldn't stop making them! I've given four away already and have two more sprucing up my own home. So grab your mom or a couple of friends, pour a few glasses of La Crema Chardonnay (you'll need the bottle!), and enjoy a lovely afternoon of crafting. Supplies:

• Glass cutter (I used this one), candle, ice cubes
• Empty wine bottles (as many as possible--you'll need a few practice ones)
• Potting soil
• Succulent(s)

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions on the glass cutter, but be extra patient--I almost gave up after trying a few bottles and having no luck.
   1. If you're using the cutter that I linked to, you'll want to really take your time rotating the bottle over the flame. Test it with ice very briefly--if you don't hear any cracking or popping, wipe it dry and continue to heat.
   2. You shouldn't have to pull the two sides apart--when it's ready, it'll crack cleanly without any force from you.
   3. Each bottle can take up to ten minutes to pop open.
2. Scoop a little bit of potting soil into the base of your bottle and re-pot the succulent. Feel free to use a couple different ones to create a look that you really like, or just put one plant in each.
3. Add more soil so that the plant is well-supported and pat down.
4. Give it to someone you love (or keep it for yourself). Enjoy!

Photos by Sarah Gatrell.